The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1887-12-01
A BLACK BAG.
The Story of Maine Yankee and
a Professional Sharper.

There were half dozen OF US, and We
We're killing time in comfortable enough
hotel IN little village not far from Brattlc
boro, Vt. II was wretched night late II
November with a high, raw wind and pit,
less rain. The sort of night ON which
according to Tom Hood, kind hearted
farmer in pure pity would takei in his scare.
crow. The members of the company were
strangers TO one another, thrown together
by the chance Of travel But they all
Seemed socially inclined, and as they sat
around the big fire that blazed on the ample
hearth OF the barroom, each one of Them
contributed something more or less inter.
esting to the conversation. All except a
tall, thin, loose jointed fellow who sat with
his hands deep In his trousers pockets. an.
parently given over TO meditation. Al
length, however, something was said which
arorsed him
:" got one OF them confidence felcr,s
cirA'lars to-day" remarked big, Jolly
urover ut came TO Ike Blivvins. and Ike
ne allowed that he didn't have no use for it
ana tossed 1t over ter me- The cuss writes
MS clrk'lar mighty cunnin' Just listen to
MIN" with that the drover produced the
circular from one of his pockets and read il
ALOUD. IL was the familiar tempting bait
icr over-confding gudgeons. The writer
remarked that the man whom he was adj
pressing had been mentioned to him az n
person who knew good chance to make
money when he saw it, and who also knew
now 10 keep his mouth shut and do business
on the quiet, Did the man want to buv
some green goodsr so well executed 40
absolutely to defy deteciionl III SO. it would
be worth his while to run down to Boston
ana see the writer who would treat him
lair aud square and put him in the wav Of
making his fortune. When the droyer had
advanced thus far in his reading the tall
fellow referred TO broke in with low rich
chuckle The droyer instantly turned IN
him with the query: "Hev you been thar.
strangerli
70, go on with your reading,n answered
The other, shaking with laughter as he
spoke.
Inc rest OF us pricked up our ears with
pieasuraDle anticipation, while the droyer
re1oised, replacing the circular in his pocl,-
ct; 70, this paper amt Of no particular ac-
coun', let's have your story" The tall man
hesitated, gazed straight ahead on n line
with the top OF his boots as IL inourinp M
lne nre whether or not he should unbosom
himselI. Apparently the fire seconded tho
drover's request, for after little. bnrv,ng
his hands still deeper in his pockets and
with his eyes fixed so intently unon The
blazlng logs before him as to produce tho
impression of one talking to himself, he IN
lolued TO US this tale about as | reproduceit
H.
Gentlemen, I'm almost fifty wears old
what ! tell you happened more than n
quarter OF century back; in fact. when
was still youngster. Perhaps some of
the rest OF you once had wild oats that Won
were foolish enough TO SOW. The worst
Sse you can put wild oats to is TO sow Thorn
Eut that's neither here nor there got
tne OF these green goodsn circulars %,
called, In the summer of 1858. was then
living in Maine. Itcane to me from Roston
py mail Well. was stripping. inexnerj-
.enced, greener than grass, reckless and
toieraoly fond of money. The circular an
pealed to my cupidity, and determined n
slip down TO Boston and see what the oreen
goods we're like. had 1000 in n banlf in
augusta, alegacy froma an aunt, and drew
out Sl,Ooo before / left Maine. determined
u the counterfeits were first-class to invest
nil OF II IN them. OF course | was an ace
ana something worse-but let that mass
The circular said when | got to Boston
was TO 90 to certain saloon in the south
end OF the town and inquire for Samuel
Hall and that to prevent any mistake IA
regard to who was who, on meeting Samuel
was to return to him the circular in tho
envelope in which it came. l obeyed these
directions and had little difficulty in tindino
Samuel. He wore patent leather boots and
a plug hat with Grape half way to lis ion,
remember thinking he must have lately
lost a relative, and thatit was a little rough
on his feelings to intrude business upon his
sorrow. But his manner treasured me
lie greeted me with great cordiality ana
presently invited me 10 go around TO his
rooms and see the green goods. His rooms
proved TO be at the top Of high building in
another part Of the town. Reaching them
he took big leather wallet from one OF his
pockets and spread out on the table before
me a number OF new crisp greenbacks-
lives, tens, twenties and ffties. exam.
ined them with perfect amazement, never
having dreamed that counterfeiting could
be carried 10 such pitch OF perfection.
After had carefully inspected the samples
Samuel remarked. in earnest tones:
Nov, l don't want you TO take these